Herbicidal compositions

ABSTRACT

Herbicidal compositions containing as active substance a combination of at least two of the following components: 
     (A) phosphinotricine or a derivative thereof of the formula ##STR1## (B) a phenoxy-alkane-carboxylic acid of the formula ##STR2## (C) a phenylurea derivative of the formula ##STR3## and (D) a s-triazine derivative of the formula ##STR4## in a proportion by weight of compound A to compounds B, C, and D, preferably in the range of from 4:1 to 1:30, exhibit a synergistic herbicidal effect.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 72,934, filed Sept. 6,1979, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to combinations of herbicidally effectivesubstances of the group of phosphinotricines with active substances ofthe group of phenoxyalkane-carboxylic acids and phenyl urea and triazinederivatives.

Recently, combinations of pesticides have increased in importance andespecially in the case of synergistic combinations. Valuable pesticidescan be prepared and applied in relatively small amounts which exhibitspecially desired effects, such as selectively or broad range effect,rapid action or long lasting effect and so on.

It is known that growth herbicides of the group ofphenoxy-alkanecarboxylic acids (compounds of the type B below)effectively combat in the first place broad-leaved weeds, while they arelittle effective only against weed grasses. This is the reason whycompounds of this type are suitable for application in cultivations ofmonocotyledoneae such as cereals and rice.

Urea derivatives (compounds of the type C below) and triazinederivatives (compounds of the type D below) are known to act, above all,on germinating dioctyledonous weeds and to a very small extent only onmonocotyledonous plants, while they are hardly effective against plantsthat have germinated and further grown. In the latter case the aforesaidsubstances would have to be used in very high doses as they areinsufficiently taken up by the leaves and, consequently, are nottransported to the point of action in the plant (cf. W. Koch and K.Hurle, Grundalgen der Unkrautbekampfung, edited by Eugen Ulmer,Stuttgart 1977).

In contradistinction thereto, the recently discovered herbicides of thegroup of phosphinotricines (compounds of the type A below) arecharacterized by a pronounced leaf absorption and contact effect andthey combat weeds of all botanic classes. Consequently, they can be usedfor the non selective control of undesired plant growth on agriculturalareas, industrial sites and the like (cf. DE-OS No. 2,717,440).

It has now been found, surprisingly, that mixtures of the abovespecified compounds have a pronounced synergistic effect against weeds.The synergism makes it possible considerably to reduce the appliedamounts of the individual herbicides. Moreover, special advantageouseffects have been found, for example an improved permanent effect of thecombination or an accelerated effect.

It is therefore, the object of the present invention to provideherbicidal compositions containing as active substance a combination ofat least two of the following components:

(A) phosphinotricine or a derivative thereof of the formula ##STR5##[cf. DE-OS No. 27 17 440] in which R denotes H, R' denotes H and n iszero (A I) or

R denotes H, R' denotes H, Y denotes Cl and n is 1 (A II), or

R denotes H, R' denotes C₁ -C₄ alkyl and n is zero (A III) or

R denotes NH₄, R' denotes H and n is zero (A IV) or

R denotes Na or K, R' denotes H, Na or K and n is zero (A V),

(B) a hormone weed killer of the group of phenoxy-alkanecarboxylic acidsof the formula ##STR6## in which R denotes H and R' denotes 2,4-dichloro(B I) 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (cf. Contr. Boyce Thompson Inst.Pl. Res. 12, page 321 (1942)) or

R denotes H and R' denotes 2,4,5-trichloro (B II)2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid or butoxone (cf. Science 100, page 154(1944)) or

R denotes H and R' denotes 2-methyl-4-chloro (B III)2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid or metaxone (cf. Nature 155, page498 (1945)) or

R denotes CH₃ and R' denotes 2-methyl-4-chloro (B IV)2-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy)-propionic acid or mecoprop (cf. Ann. Appl.Biol. 40, page 232 (1953)) or

R denotes CH₃ and R' denotes 2,4-dichloro (B V)2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-propionic acid or dichloroprop (cf. Proc. Am.Soc. hort. Sci. 45, page 353 (1944)),

(C) a phenylurea derivative of the formula ##STR7## in which R denotesCH₃ and R' denotes 4-chloro (C I) N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N',N'-dimethyl ureaor monuron (cf. Science 114, page 493 (1951)) or

R denotes CH₃ and R' denotes 3,4-dichloro (C II)N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N',N'-dimethyl urea or diuron (cf. Science 114,page 493 (1951)) or

R denotes OCH₃ and R' denotes 4-chloro (C III)N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N'-methoxy-N'-methyl urea or monolinuron (cf. Meded.Landb. Hoogesch. Opzoek Stns. Gent 27, page 1275 (1962)) or

R denotes OCH₃ and R' denotes 3,4-dichloro (C IV)N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N'-methoxy-N'-methyl urea or linuron (cf. Meded.Landb. Hoogesch., Gent, 27, page 1275 (1962)),

and

(D) a s-triazine derivative of the formula ##STR8## in which R denotesCl, R' denotes i-C₃ H₇ and R" denotes C₂ H₅ (D I)4-ethylamino-2-chloro-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine or atrazine (cf. Proc.IV Int. Congr. Crop Prot. Hamburg 1957) or

R denotes Cl, R' denotes C₂ H₅ and R" denotes C₂ H₅ (D II)4,6-diethylamino-2-chloro-s-triazine or simazine (cf. Experienta 12,page 146 (1956)) or

R denotes Cl, R' denotes C₂ H₅ and R" denotes t-C₄ H₉ (D III)4-ethylamino-6-t.butylamino-2-chloro-s-triazine or terbutylazine (cf.Proc. 8th Br. Weed Contr. Conf. 1966, page 485) or

R denotes SCH₃, R' denotes C₂ H₅ and R" denotes i-C₃ H₇ (D IV)4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-2-methylthio-s-triazine or ametryne (Adv.Pest. Control Res., 3, page 289 (1960)) or

R denotes SCH₃, R' denotes i-C₃ H₇ and R" denotes i-C₃ H₇ (D V)4,6-diisopropylamino-2-methylthio-s-triazine or prometryne (cf. Chemy.Ind. 1393 (1962)) or

R denotes OCH₃, R' denotes C₂ H₅ and R" denotes t-C₄ H₉ (D VI)4-ethylamino-6-t.butylamino-2-methoxy-s-triazine or terbumeton (cf.Proc. 8th Br. Weed Control Conf. 1966, page 485).

The mixing proportions of components A to B, C or D can vary within widelimits, approximately between 4:1 to 1:30. The mixing proportion dependson the type of the components used, the state of development of theweeds, the weed spectrum and so on. Mixing proportions of from 2:1 to1:20 are preferred.

Preferred herbicidal combinations are those of component A withcomponents B, C or D. Combinations of component A with components B andC or B and D or C and D or B and C and D are also possible.

The combinations according to the invention can be used in the form ofmixed formulations of the individual components, for example as wettablepowders or emulsion concentrates, which are diluted with water in theusual manner prior to application. Alternatively, the individualcomponents can be formulated separately in the usual manner and thencommonly diluted with water as so-called tank mixtures.

In general, the herbicide of type A is applied in an amount of from 0.5to 3.0 kg per hectare, components B, C or D are applied in an amount offrom 0.25 to 10.0 kg/ha, that is to say the total amount applied of theherbicidal combination is in the range of from about 0.75 to 13 kg perhectare.

The compositions according to the invention can be commercialized in theusual formulations known to the expert, for example as wettable powders,emulsifiable concentrates or sprayable solutions. The formulationsgenerally contain from 2 to 95% by weight of the combination of activesubstances.

Wettable powders are formulations which are uniformly dispersible inwater and which, in addition to the active compounds and a diluent orinert material, also contain wetting agents, for example,polyoxethylated alkylphenols, polyoxethylated oleylamines orstearylamines, alkylsulfonates or alkylphenylsulfonates and dispersingagents, for example sodium ligninsulfonate,sodium-dinaphthylmethane-disulfonate, or the sodium salt of oleoylmethyltaurine.

Emulsifiable concentrates are obtained by dissolving the mixture ofactive compounds in an organic solvent, for example, butanol,cyclohexanone, dimethyl formamide, xylene or even higher boilingaromatics, and adding an emulsifier, for example, a polyoxethylatedalkylphenol or a polyoxethylated oleylamine or stearylamine.

In the herbicidal compositions the concentrations of the activecompounds in the commercial formulations may vary. In wettable powders,the active compound concentration varies, for example, between about 10and 95%, the remainder consisting of the abovementioned formulationadditives. In the case of emulsifiable concentrates, the active compoundconcentration is about 10% to 80%. Dust formulations usually contain5-20% of active compound, and sprayable solutions about 2-20%. In thecase of granules, the active compound content in part depends on whetherthe active compound is in a liquid or solid form and what granulatingauxiliaries, fillers and the like are used.

The commercial concentrates are diluted prior to application in theusual manner, for example by means of water in the case of wettablepowders and emulsifiable concentrates. Dusts, granules and sprayablesolutions need not be diluted with further inert material prior to use.The amount of active ingredients necessary for obtaining the desiredresult depends on external conditions such as temperature, humidity andthe like.

The compositions according to the invention can be combined with otherherbicides, fungicides and insecticides.

The following examples illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLES OF FORMULATION EXAMPLE 1

A wettable power (WP) of component A IV and component C II is prepared.

    ______________________________________                                        Proportion of A IV:C II                                                       (in % by weight) 1:5       1:3     1:8                                        ______________________________________                                        A IV             8         12      6                                          C II             40        36      48                                         synthetic silicic acid                                                                         37.5      38.5    31.5                                       sodium dinaphthylmethane                                                                       8         8       8                                          disulfonate                                                                   sodium alkylnaphthalene                                                                        6         5       6                                          sulfonate                                                                     natrium stearate 0.5       0.5     0.5                                                         100       100     100                                        ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 2

A wettable powder of component A IV and component C IV is prepared.

    ______________________________________                                        Proportion of A IV:C IV                                                       (in % by weight)      1:5     1:3                                             ______________________________________                                        A IV                  8       12                                              C IV                  40      36                                              sodium ligninsulfonate                                                                              10      10                                              sodium oleoyl-N--methyltaurine                                                                      1       1.5                                             sodium stearate       0.5     0.5                                             sodium alkylnaphthalene sulfonate                                                                   2       2.5                                             synthetic silicic acid                                                                              35.5    34.5                                            sodium bicarbonate    3       3                                                                     100     100                                             ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 3

A wettable powder of component A IV and D I is prepared.

    ______________________________________                                        Proportion of A IV:D I                                                        (in % by weight)     1:5     1:3                                              ______________________________________                                        A IV                 10      15                                               D I                  50      45                                               sodium sulfate       5       5                                                sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate                                                                    1       0.5                                              sodium stearate      0.5     0.5                                              sodium ligninsulfonate                                                                             12      14                                               kaolin               21.5    20                                                                    100.0   100.0                                            ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 4

A wettable powder is prepared from component A IV and component D IVwith the additives as defined in Example 3.

EXAMPLE 5

A wettable powder is prepared from components A IV and B II or B IV.

    ______________________________________                                        Proportion        A IV:B II = A IV:B IV =                                     (in % by weight)  1:2         1:2                                             ______________________________________                                        A IV              20          20                                              B II (Na--salt)   43.4        --                                              B IV (Na--salt)   --          44.1                                            sodium alkylnaphthalene                                                                         2           4                                               disulfonate                                                                   sodium dinaphthalene methane                                                                    6           5                                               disulfonate                                                                   sodium oleoyl-N--methyltaurine                                                                  0.5         0.5                                             sodium bicarbonate                                                                              4           4                                               diatomaceous earth                                                                              10          10                                              synthetic silicic acid                                                                          14.1        12.4                                                              100.0       100.0                                           ______________________________________                                    

To prepare the wettable powders the components were mixed and finelymilled once in a cross beater mill and then twice in a pinned disk mill.

BIOLOGICAL EXAMPLES EXAMPLE I

Perennial weed grasses (Cynodon and Paspalum) were grown from rhizomesin pots in the greenhouse. When the plants had reached a height of 10 to15 cm, they were sprayed with the herbicides (post-emergence process).Approximately 4 weeks after the treatment the results were evaluated in% by visual inspection of the plants which had been kept in thegreenhouse. It was found that the herbicidal effect of the combinationaccording to the invention was far beyond the effect to be expected inview of the individual effects of the mixing components. Thus, thecombination had a considerable synergistic effect.

                  TABLE I                                                         ______________________________________                                        Treatment of perennial weed grasses in the post-emer-                         gence process in the greenhouse (destruction in %)                                        dose     Cynodon  Paspalum                                                    kg AS/ha dactylon conjugatum                                      ______________________________________                                        A II 25% sprayable                                                                          1.44        0       86                                          solution      2.88       40       --                                          C II WP 80%   1.00       24       16                                          A II + C II   1.44 + 1.0 55       100                                                       2.88 + 1.0 95       --                                          AS active substance                                                                         800 liter per hectare                                           amount of water applied                                                       4 repetitions                                                                 evaluation 4 weeks                                                            after treatment                                                               ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE II

In the open field an area on which various types of weeds were growingwas selected for a small lot experiment. The herbicides were sprayed bya post-emergence process to the lots each having a size of 10 squaremeters using water in an amount of 600 liters per hectare. Theexperiment was repeated twice. 27 days after the treatment theherbicidal effect was evaluated in % by visual inspection (Table II). Itwas found, surprisingly, that the herbicidal combinations according tothe invention had a pronounced synergistic effect above the additiveeffect of the individual components.

                  TABLE II                                                        ______________________________________                                        Weed control, field trial by post-emergence process                           % destruction, evaluation 27 days after treatment                                       dose    Lolium   Echinochloa                                                                             Poa                                                kg AS/ha                                                                              perennial                                                                              crus galli                                                                              annua                                    ______________________________________                                        A II 18% sprayable                                                                         0.75     33       49      49                                     solution                                                                      B IV        2.0        0        0       0                                     B II        2.0        0        0       0                                     A II + B IV 0.75 + 2.0                                                                              90       85      88                                     A II + B II 0.75 + 2.0                                                                              97       90      --                                     amount of water                                                                           600 liters per hectare                                            applied                                                                       size of lot 10 square meters                                                  2 repetitions                                                                 ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE III

In the field small lots infested with couch grass were treated withherbicides when the grass (Agropyron repens) had reached the three-leafstage. 600 liters of water were sprayed per hectare, the lots had a sizeof 10 square meters each and the experiment was repeated twice. Thedestruction was evaluated in % by visual inspection 15 days and 58 daysafter the treatment. It was found that at the early evaluation 15 daysafter application the herbidical combinations exhibited approximately anormal herbicidal effect as could be expected in view of the additiveeffect of the individual components. At the later evaluation, i.e. 58days after application, the herbicidal combinations still had a goodeffect while the effect of the individual components was no longersatisfactory. Hence, the combinations had a synergistic effect over aprolonged period of time which is rather valuable in that thedestruction of couch grass is economically important and in this mannera permanent control of couch grass can be achieved with the herbicidalcombinations according to the invention.

                  TABLE III                                                       ______________________________________                                        Control of couch grass (Agropyron repens) in a                                field trial by a post-emergence process. The                                  destruction is indicated in % for 2 evaluation terms                                               Agropyron repens                                                     dose     % destruction after                                                  kg AS/ha 15 days   58 days                                        ______________________________________                                        A II 18% sprayable                                                                          1.0        90        33                                         solution                                                                      C II WP 80    3.2         0        33                                         D I WP 50     3.0        17        33                                         A II + C II   1.0 + 3.2  87        85                                         A II + D I    1.0 + 3.0  90        98                                         Evaluation stages of                                                                        start of tillering                                              couch grass   (15 days after treatment)                                                     start of shooting                                                             (58 days after treatment)                                       amount of water applied                                                                     600 liters per hectare                                          size of lot   10 square meters                                                2 repetitions                                                                 ______________________________________                                    

What is claimed is:
 1. A herbicidal composition containing as an activeingredient, herbicidally effective amounts of compound A and compound B,wherein compound A has the formula ##STR9## and compound B has theformula ##STR10## wherein the proportion by weight of compound A tocompound B is in the range of from 1:1.5 to 1:4.
 2. A herbicidalcomposition containing as an active ingredient, herbicidally effectiveamounts of compound A and compound B, wherein compound A has the formula##STR11## and compound B has the formula ##STR12## wherein theproportion by weight of compound A to compound B is in the range of from1:1.5 to 1:4.
 3. A herbicidal composition which comprises from 2 to 95%by weight of the active ingredient as defined in claim 1 in admixturewith up to 98% by weight of an inert material.
 4. Method for combattingweeds which comprises applying to the infested area an effective amountof a herbicidal composition as defined in claim
 1. 5. Method forcombatting weeds which comprises applying to the infested area 0.75 to13 kg per hectare of a herbicidal composition as defined in claim
 1. 6.A herbicidal composition which comprises from 2 to 95% by weight of theactive ingredient as defined in claim 2 in admixture with up to 98percent by weight of an inert material.
 7. Method for combating weedswhich comprising applying to the infested area an effective amount of aherbicidal composition as defined in claim 6.